Allee Bleue wine estate goes platinum
2012-09-19 15:52
Franschhoek - Allée Bleue wine farm has re-launched their flagship range of a trio of fine wines with packaging and labelling to match. “When I joined the farm in 2009” explains winemaker Van Zyl du Toit “everyone who worked here was clear which wines were in our top range, but that wasn’t always so well understood by the customers! So we’ve gradually been making changes both to the look of the wines as well as what’s in the bottle, and are now happy that everything has come together and really reflects the quality of Allée Bleue.”
The Platinum range consists of three wines – the Pinotage 2009, the red blend L’Amour Toujours 2009 and the white blend, the Isabeau 2011. Of the three, Van Zyl is most proud of the Isabeau, a wine he has developed and tweaked over the last couple of years to create one of the most exciting, food-friendly wines in the Franschhoek Valley. Traditionally a Semillon/Chardonnay blend, he has increased the proportion of Chardonnay – a variety he loves – and added in just the finest dash of Viognier to add perfume and elegance. “I like to let the wine do its own thing” he says “all natural ferments, lots of lees contact, malolactic fermentation in barrels; and the result is a wonderfully ‘wild’ wine which can keep for a long time.”
Allée Bleue has long been known for the quality of its Pinotage which Van Zyl sources from almost fifty-year old bushvines in Piekenierskloof. “I like a Pinotage to taste like a Pinotage” he states and the 2009 certainly delivers, with its meaty, Marmite flavours, gritty intensity and sour cherry finish. The L’Amour Toujours 2009 is a mainly Bordeaux blend with just a little Grenache Noir adding extra red fruit and spice to the rich black berries with hints of chocolate and cream.
All three wines now boast beautiful platinum labels designed by Allée Bleue’s good friends, Emile and Gundul Sogor, who have been responsible for much of the design elements throughout the estate. The elegant bottles and labels are now easily distinguishable from the premium White label range (consisting of Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Shiraz and Cabernet/Merlot) and the good value, entry-level Starlette range with its cheerful blue labels. “We believe this will make it much easier for customers to identify which wines are which, and gives the Platinum Range in particular, an outside appearance which now matches the quality of the wine in the bottles” says Van Zyl. “They certainly stand out now as true flagship wines from Allée Bleue!”
The Allée Bleue Isabeau 2011 costs R88 from the cellar door, the Pinotage 2009 is R140 and the L’Amour Toujours is R150. The White label range costs between R45 and R87 and the Starlette wines between R35 and R42.
For further information on Allée Bleue Wine Estate call (27) (21) 874 1021, email info@alleebleue.com or visit www.alleebleue.com. Allée Bleue is located at the junction of the R45 and R310, Groot Drakenstein.
